| Proxy sites have been around for years; right from the | | | | First of all, make sure that you Windows firewall is |
| birth of the Internet. They are pieces of software or | | | | enabled. This will help filter out incoming viruses and |
| hardware that act as a middle man, handling data on | | | | dangers from data packets. Secondly, make sure that |
| your behalf and thus cutting out risk on your part. They | | | | you have a good antivirus software package installed |
| are useful if you want a different indentify when your | | | | on your PC that allows you to do regular updates. |
| surfing the Internet and can be used to remain private | | | | Perform the updates manually and never rely on the |
| when surfing some websites that my harm your | | | | application to do it automatically because sometimes it |
| computer. | | | | will not do this. |
| If you surf the Internet normally, websites can track | | | | Also, I would advise using the Firefox browser instead |
| certain pieces of information about you. The | | | | of the Internet Explorer. This type of browser is more |
| information that they can track varies but typically its | | | | secure and has in built functions to further protect your |
| stuff like IP address, geographical location, type of | | | | computer from dangers. Internet Explorer is too volatile |
| Browser you are suing, MAC address and much more. | | | | and does not provide you with as much protection and |
| Using this information they can establish your ISP and | | | | subsequently your PC becomes infected if not worse. |
| roughly where you are from. | | | | If you have some spare cash, you could always look |
| Not everybody likes this. Some people prefer to | | | | into purchasing a package that offers you even more |
| remain private for whatever reason they have. Just | | | | protection like encryption, for example. This will protect |
| because you wish to remain anonymous it does not | | | | your data when transmitting from A to B and vice |
| mean that you are doing things that you should not be; | | | | versa. If someone or something were to attempt to |
| as some people believe. I know someone that likes | | | | hack the signal, all they would get is gibberish and not |
| using a proxy site for his Internet banking so to give | | | | the actual data being transmitted. This is probably the |
| himself extra privacy and an extra layer of protection | | | | best form of protection that you could get. This will not |
| from Trojans and viruses that could infect his | | | | come free though. You can probably expect to spend |
| computer. There is nothing wrong with this. With all the | | | | several hundred dollars for the top of the range |
| new viruses out today you have to take as many | | | | packages. |
| precautions necessary to keep yourself safe. | | | | I hope this article has given you insight into how proxies |
| If you do not want to use a proxy site there are still | | | | can be advantageous and how you can apply what I |
| some things that you can apply to minimise any risks. | | | | have talked about to a real life scenario. Good Luck. |